Broken Brakes II

Well crap.  I bought a Torx set and got the 2nd caliper apart.  But, when I got both the pistons out, I found one of the had a big chunk broken off at the bottom.  So now I need a new piston as well as seals.  Then I called O'Reilly Auto to see if they carried the piston.  Should have known better.  This is Sunday and the duffus that answered the phone couldn't find his butt.  He couldn't even find the order I placed last week for the seal kits.  So now I'm wondering if they are even on order.  Guess I'll just cool my heels until Monday and talk to someone who knows something (although, they're getting more and more difficult to find).

One thing did turn out okay this weekend.  I went to Stephen's to help with his wiring and while doing that we installed a 30 amp RV power outlet outside his workshop.  Now we can park Pumpkin at Stephen's and had air conditioning - something of a necessity right now for sure.  Oh, while doing this we also got his well artesian pump going, at least temporarily, and wiring run for a new well pump.  Stephen has been without water for over a week.  He has his name on the list to a new well drilled, but that may be another couple of weeks - or more.  At least now he can flush the toilet, shower and wash clothes.

Broken Brakes

As I posted earlier, the brakes need work.  I suspected a sticking caliper piston.  Today, after the shade finally moved over Pumpkin (it was over 100 degrees today), I jacked it up and pulled the wheels off.  Then I pulled both front calipers off to check them.  The right side has different bolts holding the thing together (torx head) and I don't have the tool for that - yet.  The left side had regular hex head bolts so I started there and sure enough, a piston was stuck.  These are "super duty" calipers and have two pistons on each side.  One was stuck on the left side.  The seal had split and water got in and rusted things up a bit.  It clean up okay, though.  I'll pick up some new seals and the torx tool Friday, but won't get to put it back together until after the weekend.  I'm going to Stephen's to help with some wiring.  So, I won't know if the right side had a sticking piston until then, but I think it is probably okay.

Thinking back, the guy we bought Pumpkin from told me he had put new pads on the front.  I suspect this caliper was sticking then and he thought it was the pads.  The new pads would have been thicker and re-positioned the piston which may have freed it up for a while.  Oh well.  It will be good now.

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

Picked up Pumpkin today.  The total bill was right at $900.  Ouch.  But, it could have been worse.  It required a rebuilt torque converter plus the seals which is why the price was more than the low end estimate.  I also had them add synthetic transmission fluid so that added a bit to the cost.

I bought a transmission temp gauge and will try to install it soon.  Heat is the main killer of transmissions and maybe if I keep track of the temperature I can ward off any future problems.

I was going to start on the front brakes this next week, but thank goodness Stephen needs us down there to do some wiring.  It's too danged hot to crawl around under the RV right now.  Same with the transmission gauge.  I'll hook it up when the weather breaks.

Anyway, it looks like we'll take Pumpkin down to Stephen's next weekend.  He is making arrangements to have a new well drilled and he needs wiring for the well.  He and I can do it a lot cheaper than hiring an electrician.

Between the heat and the fact that Julie and the girls are arriving late tonight, Pumpkin projects are now on hold.

Still Dragging It Out

Pumpkin is still in the shop!  I called about it yesterday and they were just taking the transmission out - supposedly.  So, it might be ready tomorrow, but we can't pick it up until Thursday now.  We've GOT to meet Stephen and give him his two "sweet" little dogs back that we've been doggie sitting.  Oh, they haven't been too bad except they certainly are intrigued with Joyce's chickens.  In fact, we've got a couple running around missing most of their tail feathers.

Ha!  I went up to check the chickens last night after dark and Betty (one of the dogs) went with me.  We have an electric fence charger set up on a timer to come on just about dark and then go off at dawn.  It charges wire encircling both the "chicken door" into the wire coop and the "chicken door" on into the chicken house.  So, for any varmint to get at the hens, it must run the gamut of two charged doorways.  Betty turned back at the first one.  She probably won't mess with it again.

This Pumpkin transmission delay is putting me behind schedule.  I need to overhaul the front brakes, add a transmission temp gauge, add some means of securing the step stool and two folding TV trays up under the new counter top, put in a new emergency flasher and see why the generator won't stay running while driving.  I'm sure there will be more.  It's sure a good thing I can do most of this stuff myself.  The current plan is to make a trip out to Custer State Park and The Badlands this September and I really need to get to work on this stuff.  Oh yes, Julie and the girls are expected back through here Friday.  I'm not sure how long they'll be staying, though.  Well, I'll welcome a break for them, but as soon as they are gone, it's back to work.

Oh yes, I finished the add-on table top for the new counter.  I made a 24" x 20" top like the main counter - luan plywood with framing in between, similar to a hollow core door.  I used the folding leg off the old dinette top.  I put two wooden dowels in the edge that mates with the counter top.  These get inserted in the edge of the counter, the leg gets dropped and locked into place then a window sash lock underneath secures the add-on to the counter.  Now, we'll have a good place to play Scrabble or if we're feeling friendly, face each other while we eat.  It is easily removed and stored on the wall under the counter.  Oh, clever me.  I'll post a picture of the finished product if I ever get Pumpkin back home.

Dragging It Out

The transmission shop still hasn't started on Pumpkin's transmission.  Maybe they'll get it pulled today.  If so, it should be ready by Wednesday.

After I get Pumpkin back home, I've got to tackle the front brakes.  Looks like I have a pad dragging.  The rotors were turned a couple of years ago and the brake lines replaced so it shouldn't need either of those.  The pads look good so maybe it's just a sticking caliper.  If I'm lucky (but I seldom am), it just needs cleaned and maybe a plunger kit.  Otherwise, it may need a new caliper for about $100.  I bought a 20 ton bottle jack a few weeks ago, so I think I can do it myself.

A Little Renovation

It's been a while since I had any news about Pumpkin.  After my last posting, we decided to do a little remodeling.  We weren't real pleased with the old standard dinette/bed arrangement.  It was pretty cramped and difficult to get in and out.  I don't have a particularly good photo of the old dinette, but here's one.

Yes, we do have more than just Joyce and I in Pumpkin now and then.  But, most of the time it is just us (and Ditto) so we decided to make Pumpkin handier for just us.

First I removed the old dinette and filthy old green carpet.

Next, I re-carpeted with remnants left over from carpeting our living room.  I had to seam it, of course, but did not have a seaming tool so the seams are not perfect.  But, Joyce hand stitched them with almost invisible thread.  Looks good.  In this photo you can also see the sheet of Luann plywood I added to the wall.  There were a lot of holes and other damage in the old wall board that just would not patch well.

I built a counter top from Luann.  It is a couple of sheets of 3/16" plywood sandwiching 3/4" framing.  That makes it strong yet still light.

Mike has a mate to the chair in this photo, so we will have a pair.  With some kind of folding stools (yet TBD), we should be able to seat up to 4 along the counter and with the two folding TV tray style tables we have, 2 more can eat from the 2 chairs along the other side.

It is difficult to see in this photo, but I drilled 2 small holes in the edge trim in the center (align just about where the ends of the box on the counter).  My plan is to make a small 20" x 24" panel (built like the counter top).  This panel can be mounted to the front edge of the counter (dowels plugging into the existing holes) with a folding leg to support it.  It would make a big "T" out of the counter top for playing Scrabble or if we just had to face each other while eating.

I plan on making racks of some sort along the wall underneath to store the folding tables and the add-on table panel when not in use.  Also, the step stool Joyce uses at the bottom of the steps will be stored along the inside of the wall next to the steps.

One drawback in this modification plus the one where we replaced the sofa with 2 office chairs is that we lost 2-4 sleeping spots.  But, we still have the big cabover bunk that can sleep up to 3 large kids and our own bed in the back.  Maybe reducing sleeping head count isn't such a bad idea after all.

Edit: I finally got to finish the knock-down table that goes with the new counter.  I used the old tabletop folding leg and made a 24"x20" top to match the counter.  A couple of dowels along the edge and a sash window lock to hold it in place and here it is.

Then I added a storage mount for Joyce's outside step stool.

I still need to make a storage mount or lock to hold the new tabletop in place when it is stowed away under the counter.

Pumpkin's doctor day tomorrow

The transmission front pump seal has given up.  It started last September as we finished our great Wisconsin/Minnesota/South Dakota run.  As I backed into the drive we realized Pumpkin was hemorrhaging transmission fluid.  I topped it off and was took it to Petit Jean this last March and had no problem.  But, then upon returning from Carter Caves in April, it happened again.

If we're lucky, it is only the seal for about $600.  If we're unlucky, it could mean a complete rebuild for about $2000.  Either way, I've ordered a transmission temperature gauge so I can keep tabs on Pumpkin's transmission temperature.  From everything I've read, this is a common problem for a hard working transmission and now that we're towing Coors, Pumpkin has to work that much harder.  If I can keep the transmission temperature down, it should help keep the seal intact.  I'll just have to let it cool down now and then.

Guess we'll tow Coors down to Stephen's new house in Oklahoma next weekend for a trial run.  If it does well, we'll start planning our next trip - maybe to the East Coast.  It's too danged hot right now, so we're probably looking at shortly after Labor Day.